Giro 2017: Polanc wins at Mount Etna, Jungels new leader

At 181 kilometres, stage 4 in the Giro takes in 50 kilometres of climbing. Jan Polanc brings an early break home on the 18 kilometres closing climb on Mount Etna. Bob Jungels is the new leader in the Giro. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage 2017 Giro

1. Jan Polanc (slo)
2. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 0.19
3. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.29
4. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.
5. Dario Cataldo (ita) s.t.
6. Tom Dumoulin (nld) s.t.
7. Bob Jungels (lux) s.t.
8. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
9. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
10. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.

11. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
15. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
16. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
18. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
20. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
22. Andrey Amador (crc) s.t.
26. Rui Costa (por) + 1.05

GC after 4th stage
1. Bob Jungels (lux)
2. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.06
3. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.10
4. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.
5. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.
6. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
7. Tom Dumoulin (nld) s.t.
8. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
9. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
10. Thibaut Pinot (fra) z.t

11. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
12. Andrey Amador (cri) s.t.
13. Davide Formolo (ita) s.t.
14. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 0.14
15. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.23
16. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
17. Rui Costa (por) + 0.46

Race report
Shortly after the flag is dropped Jan Polanc, Pavel Brutt, Jacques Janse van Rensburg and Eugenio Alafaci join forces to break away. They put more than 8 minutes into the peloton. Meanwhile, Rohan Dennis abandons after his crash in stage 3.

Alafaci and Brutt are dropped before they hit the Etna and Polanc heads out on his own at the lower slopes when the lead is down to 4 minutes. Rolland jumps clear from the peloton with 13 kilometres left to climb, but he is brought back after an 8 kilometres effort.

With 3 kms to go Jesper Hansen accelerates and a little later Nibali goes on the attack, too – yet they are both brought back. Zakarin leaves with 1.5 kilometre to go, which is a little too late as he doesn’t make it to the front. He gains some time and a 6 seconds bonus though, while Geraint Thomas wins the group sprint.

Bob Jungels finishes with the GC contenders and moves into the race lead.

Check out the route of the 4th stage in the 2017 Giro.